DEAFBC

GVAD’s 37th Annual Cornfest 2nd early bird Draws with the winners! 

Media Release
September 15, 2015 For Immediate Release

Canadians with Disabilities: Getting Beyond Being a Population in Waiting

Many people with disabilities, when seeking employment, struggle endlessly against discriminatory barriers in the job market.

“People with disabilities have been a population in waiting: waiting for governments to develop proactive policies inclusive of job seekers with disabilities and waiting to contribute to the economy through employment and paying taxes,” states Tony Dolan, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD).

“A signal that major changes need to be made is the fact that approximately 50% of persons with disabilities are currently unemployed or out of the labour market (the rate is higher for people with severe disabilities), which is unacceptable in a G8 country like Canada,” adds Dolan.

In Article 27, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires ratifying countries, like Canada, to “safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work” by people with disabilities. “To this end, CCD has called on all Federal Parties to share their plans to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities,” states John Rae, a CCD Vice Chair.  

“People with disabilities, who become employed, are more likely than others to be in short-term or part-time jobs, self-employment, and the ‘informal economy’,” continues Rae.

Due to their experience of multiple barriers, women with disabilities encounter additional disadvantages in the labour market. For example, Yves Gingras, HRSDC Senior Director Economic Policy Directorate (Labour Market Analysis), appearing before a parliamentary committee, testified that, “the average total [annual] income for persons with a disability is about $27,000, compared to nearly $38,000 for those without a disability. Women with disabilities earn even less, an average of about $22,000, compared to $31,000 for men with disabilities.” Thus, CCD is particularly interested in Federal Parties’ plans to improve labour market outcomes for women with disabilities.

Canadians with disabilities are seeking equality in employment. To this end, CCD has repeatedly recommended to federal parties that they commit to increased investment in the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities. For example, new investments could be focused on youth with disabilities (aged 18-30) transitioning from school to work, including trades, with support for proactive measures such as co-operative placements, summer job programs, supported employment and job retention measures. 

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For more information contact:

Tony Dolan, CCD Chairperson, Tel: 902-626-1752 (cell).

John Rae, CCD Second Vice Chair, Tel: 416-941-1547.

James Hicks, National Coordinator, Tel: 343-291-1118.
About CCD – CCD is a national organization of people with disabilities that works for an accessible and inclusive Canada.
Head Office/Siège social: 909-294 Portage Avenue Winnipeg MB R3C 0B9 Tel/Tél: 204-947-0303 Fax/Téléc: 204-942-4625

TTY/ATS: 204-943-4757 Toll Free/Sans frais: 1-877-947-0303 E-mail/Courriel: ccd@ccdonline.ca

Please forward all correspondence to the Head Office./Prière d’envoyer les correspondances au siège social.

Ottawa Office/Bureau d’Ottawa: 1118-343 Preston St Ottawa ON K1S 1N4 Tel/Tél: 343-291-1118 E-mail/Courriel: james@ccdonline.ca

Web www.ccdonline.ca

Facebook www.facebook.com/ccdonline

Twitter www.twitter.com/ccdonline

Youtube www.youtube.com/user/ccdonline

  
www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/programs/pickford/the-tribe/

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

 NEW LOCATION! 150-D GRAY ROAD, KELOWNA, BC                                                           #55 SENIORS CENTRE

AT 2:00 pm

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED AT 2, COME HAVE COFFEE AND SNACKS

GUEST – ROBIE SCHOLEFIELD from the DEAF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BC

GORDON R & ROBIE WILL GIVE PRESENTATION ABOUT DCF

AGM TO FOLLOW – VOTE NEW BOARD!

OUT TO EAT AFTER MEETING 5 or so BACK TO HALL FOR OINGO CARDS 6:30

MAP TO HALL

The Vancouver Fringe is a celebration of theatre. Over 11 days more than 90 theatre companies come together to share their creativity on stage. The uniqueness of the Fringe comes from the “everyone is welcome” selection technique—Mainstage shows are literally drawn from a hat, while Bring Your Own Venue (BYOV) artists find their own venue, some of them in surprising locations! The Fringe revels in its identity as part theatre, part party – it’s a cultural experience unlike any other! 

This year the Fringe runs from September 10-20 at venues around Vancouver, with most shows on Granville Island. After purchasing your $5 Membership (which lets you vote in the Fringe’s AGM and is also a contest entry for a Super Pass to next year’s Festival), tickets are just $14.

We hope to create opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the Fringe and we’re working to improve accessibility with every Festival. While not all venues and shows are accessible to everyone, here’s some information on what might be accessible for you.

We have selected primarily visual shows that are accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences. The list can be seen here http://www.vancouverfringe.com/accessibility2/ .

We also have two ASL-interpreted shows:

Spilling Family Secrets

Thursday, Sept 17 at 6:00pm

Show info is here. https://tickets.vancouverfringe.com/shows/spilling%20family%20secrets/events

Leftovers

Sunday, Sept 20 at 6:45pm

Show info is here. https://tickets.vancouverfringe.com/shows/leftovers/events

In addition, we’re working with local interpreters, Douglas College’s Sign Language Interpretation Program, and the Westcoast Association of Visual Language Interpreters to set up free interpreting services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing volunteers during the Festival. These volunteers deserve a shout out for bringing their enthusiastic attitudes to our volunteer training, and giving the staff and other volunteers some suggestions on how to make the Festival accessible to them. We’re looking forward to seeing them around the Festival. Like any other volunteer, the Festival truly isn’t possible without them